The Cleveland Paedophile, Thomas Wadsworth – “Growing up, the victim-survivor suffered serious and lasting effects from the horrendous abuse she suffered decades before, but she found the courage to come forward to report – and her support for the police investigation was unwavering.”
CAVA Detective Constable Suzanne Higginson stated this as Thomas Wadsworth, 54, received a six-year prison sentence for gross indecency with a child and indecent assault on a minor.
Thomas Wadsworth was in his early twenties when he perpetrated the sexual offences in 1990.
The woman came forward to police in 2022, and detectives from CAVA (Child Abuse and Vulnerable Adults) made sure she was offered specialist support immediately as their enquiries got underway.
Despite the challenges and complexities of the investigation because of the length of time that had passed, officers were able to secure charges against Thomas Wadsworth last summer.
Thomas Wadsworth was found guilty at Teesside Crown Court earlier this month, returning on Friday (20th September 2024) for sentencing.
DC Higginson commented further: “I hope the fact that Thomas Wadsworth was found guilty and will now spend many years in prison is of some comfort to this brave woman as she continues to process what she went through as a very young child.”
CAVA Detective Chief Inspector Matt Murphy King added: “Thomas Wadsworth probably believed he would never be held to account for his heinous actions all those years ago, but from the moment the victim-survivor reported what he had done, we were determined to do everything possible to get justice for her.
“We will always listen to anyone who comes forward to report any abuse and believe them. Victim-survivors can also expect support from police or local expert agencies throughout our enquiries, during the court process and afterwards.”
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.